BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Disclosure
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for a wireless system
that utilizes the RTS/CTS protocol. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an
apparatus and method for transmission and recovery modes for an RTS/CTS system that
utilizes multiple channels.
2. Related Art
[0002] One type of wireless system is an RTS/CTS protocol system. In this system, a source
node that desires to send data to a destination node over a communications channel
sends a Request to Send frame (RTS) to the destination node over the communications
channel. The RTS frame is also received by other nodes in the system that are in the
vicinity of the sending node, and those other nodes should refrain from sending data
for a given time, which is called a Network Access Vector (NAV) duration. The destination
node sends back a Clear to Send frame (CTS) to the sending node, if it is available
to receive data. The amount of time that a node should wait before trying to get access
to a channel (the NAV duration) is included in both the RTS frame and the CTS frame.
For example,
WO 2011/099791 A2 describes that an originating station transmits RTS frames to a destination station
via a plurality of subchannels of a multichannel, receives CTS frames transmitted
by the destination station in response to the RTS frames, and transmits data via the
subchannels via which the CTS frames have been received.
[0003] A problem exists in the RTS/CTS protocol for such multichannel wireless systems,
in which the CTS bandwidth is smaller than the RTS bandwidth, in which the NAV duration
has to be reset accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] The invention is disclosed in the claims. Various examples are directed to an information
providing a method for an RTS/CTS system that utilizes a plurality of channels for
data transfer. In some examples the method includes sending, by a first device, an
RTS frame over the plurality of channels; receiving, by a second device, the RTS frame
and outputting a CTS frame to the first device based on receipt of the RTS frame,
the CTS frame being output over at least one of the plurality of channels; setting,
by each device within a network that receives the RTS frame, a network allocation
vector (NAV) to a time duration that is based in part on information included in the
RTS frame; and transmitting, by the first device, data to the second device within
the time duration set by the NAV using the at least one of the plurality of channels.
[0005] In various other examples, the method includes sending, by a first device, a first
RTS frame over the plurality of channels, the first RTS frame including a first network
allocation vector (NAV) set to a time duration that includes at least a second RTS
frame and a second CTS frame; receiving, by a second device, the first RTS frame and
outputting a first CTS frame to the first device based on receipt of the first RTS
frame, the first CTS frame being output over at least one of the plurality of channels;
sending, by the first device, a second RTS frame over the at least one of the plurality
of channels based on receipt of the first CTS frame over the at least one of the plurality
of channels, the second RTS frame including a second NAV; receiving, by the first
device over the at least one of the plurality of channels, a second CTS frame output
by the second device based on the second device receiving the second RTS frame; setting,
by each device within a network that receives the second RTS frame and the second
CTS frame, a NAV to a time duration that is based in part on information included
in the second RTS frame; and transmitting, by the first device, data to the second
device within the time duration set by the second NAV using the at least one of the
plurality of channels.
[0006] In various other examples a non-transitory computer readable medium stores computer
program product for RTS/CTS system that utilizes a plurality of channels for data
transfer, and causing at least computer to perform the functions of: sending, by a
first device, an RTS frame over the plurality of channels; receiving, by a second
device, the RTS frame and outputting a CTS frame to the first device based on receipt
of the RTS frame, the CTS frame being output over at least one of the plurality of
channels; setting, by each device within a network that receives the RTS frame, a
network allocation vector (NAV) to a time duration that is based in part on information
included in the RTS frame; and transmitting, by the first device, data to the second
device within the time duration set by the NAV using the at least one of the plurality
of channels.
[0007] In various other examples, an apparatus utilizes a Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send
(RTS/CTS) protocol for sending data to another apparatus over a network. The apparatus
includes a processor configured to create an RTS frame over a plurality of channels
to the another apparatus, the plurality of channels corresponding to channels by way
data is desired to be sent from the apparatus to the another apparatus. The apparatus
also includes a receiver configured to receive a CTS frame sent by the another apparatus
over at least one of the plurality of channels. The apparatus transmits data to the
another apparatus using the at least one of the plurality of channels, within a time
duration set in part based on information contained within the RTS frame.
[0008] In various other examples, an apparatus utilizes a Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send
(RTS/CTS) protocol for sending data to another apparatus over a network, and includes
means for sending an RTS frame over the plurality of channels. The apparatus also
includes means for setting a network allocation vector (NAV) to a time duration that
is based in part on information included in the RTS frame. The apparatus further includes
means for receiving a CTS frame over at least one of the plurality of channels. The
apparatus still further includes means for transmitting data to another apparatus
within the time duration set by the NAV using the at least one of the plurality of
channels.
[0009] In various other examples, an apparatus utilizes a Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send
(RTS/CTS) protocol for sending data to another apparatus over a network, and includes
means for sending a first RTS frame over the plurality of channels, the first RTS
frame including a first network allocation vector (NAV) set to a time duration that
includes at least a second RTS frame and a second CTS frame. The apparatus also includes
means for receiving a first CTS frame over at least one of the plurality of channels.
The apparatus further includes means for sending a second RTS frame over the at least
one of the plurality of channels based on receipt of the first CTS frame over the
at least one of the plurality of channels, the second RTS frame including a second
NAV. The apparatus still further includes means for receiving a second CTS frame over
the at least one of the plurality of channels. The apparatus also includes means for
setting a NAV to a time duration that is based in part on information included in
the second RTS frame. The apparatus further includes means for transmitting data to
another apparatus within the time duration set by the second NAV using the at least
one of the plurality of channels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a plurality of nodes in a wireless network that utilizes an RTS/CTS protocol
for data transfer between nodes.
FIG. 2 shows the features of data transfer using the RTS/CTS protocol in accordance
with a first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 shows the features of data transfer using the RTS/CTS protocol in accordance
with a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 shows the features of data transfer using the RTS/CTS protocol in accordance
with a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing elements making up a node in accordance with any
of the first, second and third embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings
is intended as a description of various aspects of the present disclosure and is not
intended to represent the only aspects in which the present disclosure may be practiced.
Each aspect described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration
of the present disclosure, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or
advantageous over other aspects. The detailed description includes specific details
for providing a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will
be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced
without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices
are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the present
disclosure. Acronyms and other descriptive terminology may be used merely for convenience
and clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0012] While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and
described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies
are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or
more aspects, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that
shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand
and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of
interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated
acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more aspects.
[0013] Various embodiments of a wireless system that utilizes the RTS/CTS protocol are described
hereinbelow.
[0014] In a multichannel wireless system, in which the RTS frame is transmitted over a plurality
of channels, but in which the CTS frame is transmitted back on only a subset of the
channels in which the RTS frame was transmitted, the inventors of this application
determined that the NAV duration should be reset accordingly, due to the smaller CTS
bandwidth as compared to the RTS bandwidth. This is because the data to be transmitted
from a source node to a destination node is over a smaller bandwidth than what was
requested to be used in the RTS frame, in which the smaller bandwidth is set in the
CTS frame sent from the destination node to the source node. As such, the NAV duration
for the source node, the destination node, and all other nodes in the wireless network
that have received the RTS frame and the CTS frame have to reset their respective
NAV duration based on the lesser bandwidth provided for data transmission between
the source node and the destination node.
[0015] In a first embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a source
node 100 sends an RTS frame on all of the channels intended for transmission. In one
implementation consistent with the first embodiment, the RTS frame is sent in duplicate
mode with 11a preamble, with bandwidth information included. As shown in Figure 1,
the RTS frame is sent over four channels, CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4. A destination node
110 receiving the RTS frame sends back a CTS frame, in which only two of the four
channels, CH1 and CH2, are indicated as being available to receive data by the destination
node.
[0016] The nodes in the wireless network that receive the RTS frame and the CTS frame, such
as nodes 120, 130 and 140 in Figure 1, initially set their respective NAV durations
for the respective channels CH1 and CH2 based on the information provided in the RTS
frame. Specifically, the NAV duration is set by the RTS frame to a duration that is
computed based on the bandwidth used by the RTS frame and the amount of data to be
sent, subject to a maximum timeout (TXOP) limit.
[0017] In more detail, the NAV duration is set equal to:
NAV duration = Data Tx frame(s) time + CTS frame time + Ack frame time + 3 *SIFS,
in which the CTS frame time, the Ack frame time, and the interframe time SIFS are
all times known in advance by each node in the wireless network and correspond to
default time values. The interframe time SIFS is multiplied by three (3), since that
corresponds to the interframe times between the RTS frame, the CTS frame, the Data
frame(s), and the Ack frame. By way of example, SIFS is equal to 16 µseconds. The
Ack frame time corresponds to the time to acknowledge receipt of data without errors,
and is set to a known, default value for purposes of NAV duration computation.
[0018] The Data Tx frame(s) time is computed by each node based on the RTS bandwidth, which
in the example shown in Figure 2 corresponds to the total bandwidth of channels CH1,
CH2, CH3 and CH4. By way of example, if each channel is 20 MHz wide, the Data Tx frame(s)
time is computed based on an RTS bandwidth of 80 MHz. Using the 80 MHz bandwidth,
and the amount of data requested to be transferred from the source node to the destination
node over the four channels, as set forth in the RTS frame (e.g., 1 Gbyte of data)
each node can readily compute the Data Tx frame(s) time.
[0019] In an example that uses the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, since the CTS
frame is sent only on channels CH1 and CH2, which is a smaller bandwidth (e.g., 40
MHz) than the RTS bandwidth (e.g., 80 MHz), data is sent by the source node on the
smaller bandwidth indicated by the CTS frame, and the amount of data that can be sent
from the source node 100 to the destination node 110 is recomputed by each node receiving
the RTS frame and CTS frame based on the NAV originally set by the RTS frame and the
new, smaller bandwidth as provided in the CTS frame. That is, in the example shown
in Figure 2, because the NAV duration is set based on the RTS frame, the amount of
data that can be sent is halved (e.g., from 1 GHz to 500 MHz), since the NAV duration
remains the same. Once the NAV duration is finished, the RTS/CTS protocol allows for
any node on the network to request to transmit over one or more channels to a destination
node on the network, in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0020] A second embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to Figure
1 and Figure 3. In the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, the RTS frame
is sent on all of the channels intended for transmission by the source node 100 to
the destination node 110. In one implementation of the second embodiment, the RTS
frame is sent in duplicate mode with 11a preamble, with bandwidth information included.
As shown in Figure 3, the RTS frame is sent over four channels, CH1, CH2, CH3 and
CH4. The destination node 110 receiving the RTS frame sends back a CTS frame, in which
only two of the four channels, CH1 and CH2, are indicated as being available to receive
data by the destination node.
[0021] In a first implementation consistent with the second embodiment, unlike the first
embodiment, the NAV duration is set by all nodes receiving the RTS frame based on
a constant time value, which is independent from the amount of data to be transmitted
and the bandwidth to be used for the data transmission. By way of example, the constant
time value is set to a timeout duration, or TXOP duration, which is a timeout duration
set by the RTS/CTS protocol (e.g. a default value).
[0022] In a second implementation consistent with the second embodiment, the NAV duration
is computed based on a minimum bandwidth and the amount of data to be sent from the
source node 100 to the destination node 110, in which the minimum bandwidth may correspond
to the bandwidth of only one channel in a multi-channel wireless environment. By way
of example, this minimum bandwidth is 20 MHz, which the bandwidth of one channel.
Other minimum bandwidth values may be utilized based on the channel requirements of
a particular network, such as a minimum channel value of 1 MHz or 500 MHz, for example.
In other implementations, the minimum bandwidth may correspond to a portion of a single
channel, such as 5 MHz (1/4 of a channel) in the example described herein.
[0023] In the second implementation consistent with the second embodiment, the NAV duration
is set to a value based on the following equation:
NAV duration = Data Tx frame(s) time + CTS frame time + Ack frame time + 3 *SIFS,
in which the CTS frame time, the Ack frame time, and the interframe time SIFS are
all times known in advance by each node in the wireless network and correspond to
default time values, and in which the Data Tx frame (s) time is computed based on
the minimum bandwidth (e.g., MHz) and not the RTS bandwidth (e.g., 80 MHz).
[0024] If the CTS frame is sent back from the destination node 110 to the source node 100
on a bandwidth smaller than the bandwidth of the RTS frame, then the data is sent
from the source node 100 to the destination node 110 up to the completion of the available
data or to the NAV duration limit, which comes first. In the example shown in Figure
3, since the CTS is sent on a 40 MHz bandwidth corresponding to the bandwidth of CH1
and CH2 (20 MHz for each channel), data is sent based on the NAV duration computed
based on a single 20 MHz channel, and thus the entire amount of data is sent from
the source node 100 to the destination node 110 before the NAV duration is reached.
[0025] In the example shown in Figure 3, only about one-half of the NAV duration is actually
utilized in the transfer of data from the source node 100 to the destination node
110, and so in the second embodiment, an All Clear/End (CF-END) signal is output by
the source node 100 when it has completed its complete data transfer to the destination
node 110. The nodes on the network that receive the CF-End signal are notified that
the channels (CH1 and CH2 in the example shown in Figure 3) used for data transfer
from the source node 100 to the destination node 110 are now available for use by
any node on the network, using the RTS/CTS protocol.
[0026] A third embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to Figure 1
and Figure 4. In the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, a
first RTS/CTS handshake is made between the source node 100 and destination node 110,
in which a second RTS/CTS handshake may also be required to reset the NAV duration
value, as explained below.
[0027] In the third embodiment, like the first and second embodiments, the RTS1 frame is
sent on all of the channels intended for transmission by the source node 100 to the
destination node 110. In one implementation of the second embodiment, the RTS1 frame
is sent in duplicate mode with 11a preamble, with bandwidth information included.
As shown in Figure 4, the RTS1 frame is sent over four channels, CH1, CH2, CH3 and
CH4. The destination node 110 receiving the RTS1 frame sends back a CTS1 frame, in
which only two of the four channels, CH1 and CH2, are indicated as being available
to receive data by the destination node.
[0028] In the third embodiment, the NAV duration is computed based on the bandwidth used
by the RTS frame (e.g., the bandwidth of CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4 combined) and the amount
of data to be sent, subject to a maximum timeout limit (TXOP). In more detail, the
NAV duration is set to a value equal to:
[0029] In the third embodiment, the CTS1 frame is sent back from the destination node 110
to the source node 100 on the free channels with bandwidth information included. The
CTS1 frame is preferably sent in duplicate mode with 11a preamble.
[0030] If the CTS1 frame is sent on a bandwidth smaller than the one included in the RTS1
frame, a second RTS2/CTS2 exchange is performed between the source node 100 and the
destination node 110, in which a new NAV duration is set to a value based on the bandwidth
used by the RTS2 frame and the amount of data to be sent, subject to a maximum timeout
duration (TXOP).
[0031] In more detail, the new NAV duration is set to a value equal to:
in which the Data Tx frame(s) time is computed based on the CTS1 bandwidth. In the
example shown in Figure 4, the Data Tx frame(s) time is computed based on the CTS1
bandwidth of 40 MHz, corresponding to the bandwidth of CH1 and CH2 combined. In the
third embodiment, the time required to compute the first NAV duration using the RTS1/CTS1
frames is typically short, and so the time lost due to the need to have a second handshake
by having RTS2/CTS2 frames is more than offset by having the advantage of a correctly
computed NAV duration by all nodes on the network that are affected by utilization
of channels for data transfer between the source node 100 and the destination node
110.
[0032] Figure 5 shows in block diagram form the elements making up a node 500 in accordance
with any of the first, second and third embodiments of the invention. A processor
510 determines that it needs to send data to a destination node, and outputs an RTS
frame over all channels that it would like to send out the data. The RTS frame is
computed based on the amount of data to be transmitted, and other default values known
to the processor 510, and is output by way of an output unit 520. The node 500 includes
a monitoring unit 530 that monitors each channel on the network for RTS frames and
CTS frames, and provides that information to the processor 510. If an RTS frame is
detected by the monitoring unit 530 and if the node 500 is the desired destination
node as set forth in the RTS frame, the processor 510 determines which if any of the
channels included in the RTS frame are available to receive data, and outputs a CTS
frame accordingly. If the node 500 is not the desired destination node as set forth
in the RTS frame, the node 500 sets its NAV duration based on the information set
forth in the RTS frame. The monitoring unit 530 also monitors the channels for other
frames, such as a CF-END frame that indicates that one or more channels previously
allocated for data transfer are now freed up for future requests made by a node on
the network. A storage unit 540 stores data to be transferred by the node 500, and
is accessible by the processor 510 for enabling data transfer to a destination node
when the node 500 is allowed to send data over at least one channel in the network.
[0033] Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented
using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,
instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be
referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents,
electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles,
or any combination thereof.
[0034] Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks,
modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments
disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or
combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and
software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have
been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality
is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and
design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the
described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such
implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0035] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection
with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general
purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic
device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination
thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor
may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional
processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and
a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction
with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0036] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor,
or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash
memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable
disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary
storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information
from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage
medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may
reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the
processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
[0037] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may be implemented
in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software,
the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or
code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer
storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer
of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available
media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such
computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk
storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium
that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions
or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. In addition, any connection
is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted
from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic
cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such
as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted
pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included
in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc
(CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-Ray
disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically
with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of
computer-readable media.
[0038] The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to
these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from
the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited
to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent
with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
1. A method operative in a system utilizing a Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send, RTS/CTS,
protocol and that utilizes a plurality of channels for data transfer, comprising:
sending, by a first device (100, 500), an RTS frame over the plurality of channels,
wherein each device (120, 130, 140, 500) within a network that receives the RTS frame
sets a network allocation vector, NAV, to a time duration that is based in part on
information included in the RTS frame and that is computed based on a bandwidth of
one of the plurality of channels and an amount of data to be sent by the first device
(100, 500) to a second device (110, 500) over the bandwidth of the one of the plurality
of channels;
receiving, by the first device (100, 500), a CTS frame from the second device (110,
500) based on receipt of the RTS frame at the second device (110, 500), the CTS frame
being received over at least one of the plurality of channels;
transmitting, by the first device (100, 500), data to the second device (110, 500)
within the time duration set by the NAV using the at least one of the plurality of
channels over which the CTS frame has been received; and
outputting, by the first device (100, 500), if the data transmission to the second
device (110, 500) is completed, a data completion signal over the at least one of
the plurality of channels over which the CTS frame has been received and which has
been used for transmitting the data.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the NAV is set to the time duration that
is equal to data transmit frame(s) time + CTS frame time + acknowledgement frame time
+ (3* interframe spacing time).
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are wireless channels.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein other devices (120, 130, 140, 500) on the
network that receive the data completion signal clear any residual NAV for the at
least one of the plurality of channels which has been used by the first device (100,
500) for transmitting the data.
5. A first device (100, 500) that utilizes a Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send, RTS/CTS,
protocol for sending data to a second device (110, 500) over a network, comprising:
means for sending an RTS frame over a plurality of channels, wherein each device (120,
130, 140, 500) within the network that receives the RTS frame sets a network allocation
vector, NAV, to a time duration that is based in part on information included in the
RTS frame and that is computed based on a bandwidth of one of the plurality of channels
and an amount of data to be sent by the first device (100, 500) to the second device
(110, 500) over the bandwidth of the one of the plurality of channels;
means for receiving a CTS frame from the second device (110, 500) based on receipt
of the RTS frame at the second device (110, 500), the CTS frame being received over
at least one of the plurality of channels;
means for transmitting data to the second device (110, 500) within the time duration
set by the NAV using the at least one of the plurality of channels over which the
CTS frame has been received; and
means for outputting, if the data transmission to the second device (110, 500) is
completed, a data completion signal over the at least one of the plurality of channels
over which the CTS frame has been received and which has been used for transmitting
the data.
6. The first device (100, 500) according to claim 5, wherein the NAV is set to the time
duration that is equal to data transmit frame(s) time + CTS frame time + acknowledgement
frame time + (3 * interframe spacing time).
7. The first device (100, 500) according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of channels
are wireless channels.
8. The first device (100, 500) according to claim 5, wherein other devices (120, 130,
140, 500) on the network that receive the data completion signal clear any residual
NAV for the at least one of the plurality of channels which has been used by the first
device (100, 500) for transmitting the data.
9. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer-readable medium, comprising:
code for causing a computer to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 4.
1. Ein Verfahren anwendbar in einem System verwendend ein Anfrage-zu-Senden/Frei-zu-Senden,
RTS/CTS, Protokoll und, welches verwendet eine Vielzahl von Kanälen für Daten-Transfer,
aufweisend:
Senden, durch ein erstes Gerät (100, 500), einen RTS-Rahmen über die Vielzahl von
Kanälen, wobei jedes Gerät (120, 130, 140, 500) innerhalb eines Netzwerks, welches
den RTS-Rahmen empfängt, einen Netzwerk-Zuweisungs-Vektor, NAV, auf eine Zeitdauer
setzt, die teilweise basiert auf Information enthalten in dem RTS-Rahmen und berechnet
wird basierend auf einer Bandbreite von einem von der Vielzahl von Kanälen und einer
Menge von Daten, die gesendet werden sollen durch das erste Gerät (100, 500) zu einem
zweiten Gerät (110, 500) über die Bandbreite von dem einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen;
Empfangen, durch das erste Gerät (100, 500), eines CTS-Rahmens von dem zweiten Gerät
(110, 500) basierend auf Empfang von dem RTS-Rahmen an dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500),
wobei der CTS-Rahmen empfangen wird über zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen;
Übertragen, durch das erste Gerät (100, 500), Daten zu dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500)
innerhalb der Zeitdauer gesetzt durch den NAV verwendend den zumindest einen von der
Vielzahl von Kanälen über welche der CTS-Rahmen empfangen worden ist; und
Ausgeben, durch das erste Gerät (100, 500), wenn die Datenübertragung zu dem zweiten
Gerät (110, 500) vollständig ist, ein Daten-Vollendungs-Signal über den zumindest
einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen, über welchen der CTS-Rahmen empfangen worden ist
und welcher genutzt worden ist für Übertragen der Daten.
2. Das Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der NAV gesetzt wird auf die Zeitdauer, die
gleich ist der Datenübertragungs-Rahmen-Zeit + CTS-Rahmen-Zeit + Bestätigungs-Rahmen-Zeit
+ (3* Zwischenrahmen-Abstands-Zeit).
3. Das Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Vielzahl von Kanälen drahtlose Kanäle sind.
4. Das Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei andere Geräte (120, 130, 140, 500) auf dem Netzwerk,
welche das Daten-Vollendungs-Signal empfangen, jeglichen verbliebenen NAV löschen
für den zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen, der verwendet worden ist durch
das erste Gerät (100, 500) für Übertragen der Daten.
5. Ein erstes Gerät (100, 500), welches ein Anfrage-zu-Senden/Freizu-Senden, RTS/CTS,
Protokoll verwendet für Senden von Daten zu einem zweiten Gerät (110, 500) über ein
Netzwerk, aufweisend:
Mittel zum Senden eines RTS-Rahmens über eine Vielzahl von Kanälen, wobei jedes Gerät
(120, 130, 140, 500) innerhalb des Netzwerks, welches den RTS-Rahmen empfängt, einen
Netzwerk-Zuweisungs-Vektor, NAV, auf eine Zeitdauer setzt, die teilweise basiert auf
Information enthalten in dem RTS-Rahmen und berechnet wird basierend auf einer Bandbreite
von einem von der Vielzahl von Kanälen und einer Menge von Daten, die gesendet werden
soll durch das erste Gerät (100, 500) zu einem zweiten Gerät (110, 500) über die Bandbreite
von dem einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen;
Mittel zum Empfangen eines CTS-Rahmens von dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500) basierend
auf Empfang von dem RTS-Rahmen an dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500), wobei der CTS-Rahmen
empfangen wird über zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen;
Mittel zum Übertragen von Daten zu dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500) innerhalb der Zeitdauer
gesetzt durch den NAV verwendend den zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen
über welche der CTS-Rahmen empfangen worden ist; und
Mittel zum Ausgeben, wenn die Datenübertragung zu dem zweiten Gerät (110, 500) vollständig
ist, eines Daten-Vollendungs-Signals über den zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von
Kanälen über welchen der CTS-Rahmen empfangen worden ist und welcher genutzt worden
ist für Übertragen der Daten.
6. Das erste Gerät (100, 500) gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei der NAV gesetzt wird auf die Zeitdauer,
die gleich ist der Datenübertragungs-Rahmen-Zeit + CTS-Rahmen-Zeit + Bestätigungs-Rahmen-Zeit
+ (3 * Zwischenrahmen-Abstands-Zeit).
7. Das erste Gerät (100, 500) gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei die Vielzahl von Kanälen drahtlose
Kanäle sind.
8. Das erste Gerät (100, 500) gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei andere Geräte (120, 130, 140, 500)
auf dem Netzwerk, welche das Daten-Vollendungs-Signal empfangen, jeglichen verbliebenen
NAV löschen für den zumindest einen von der Vielzahl von Kanälen, der verwendet worden
ist durch das erste Gerät (100, 500) für Übertragen der Daten.
9. Ein Computer-Programm-Produkt aufweisend:
ein Computer-lesbares Medium aufweisend:
Code zum Verursachen, dass ein Computer ein Verfahren gemäß einem von den Ansprüchen
1 bis 4 durchführt.
1. Procédé opérationnel dans un système utilisant un protocole demande d'envoi/prêt pour
l'envoi, RTS/CTS, et qui utilise une pluralité de canaux pour un transfert de données,
comprenant :
l'envoi, par un premier dispositif (100, 500), d'une trame RTS sur la pluralité de
canaux, dans lequel chaque dispositif (120, 130, 140, 500) à l'intérieur d'un réseau
qui reçoit la trame RTS paramètre un vecteur d'allocation de réseau, NAV, sur une
durée qui est basée en partie sur des informations incluses dans la trame RTS et qui
est calculée sur la base d'une bande passante de l'un de la pluralité de canaux et
une quantité de données à envoyer par le premier dispositif (100, 500) à un second
dispositif (110, 500) sur la bande passante de l'un de la pluralité de canaux ;
la réception, par le premier dispositif (100, 500), d'une trame CTS en provenance
du second dispositif (110, 500) sur la base d'une réception de la trame RTS au niveau
du second dispositif (110, 500), la trame CTS étant reçue sur au moins l'un de la
pluralité de canaux ;
l'émission, par le premier dispositif (100, 500), de données vers le second dispositif
(110, 500) pendant la durée réglée par le NAV à l'aide de l'au moins un de la pluralité
de canaux sur lequel la trame CTS a été reçue ; et
la délivrance, par le premier dispositif (100, 500), si l'émission de données vers
le second dispositif (110, 500) est achevée, d'un signal d'achèvement de données sur
l'au moins un de la pluralité de canaux sur lequel la trame CTS a été reçue et qui
a été utilisé pour émettre les données.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le NAV est réglé sur la durée qui est
égale au temps de trame(s) d'émission de données + temps de trame CTS + temps de trame
d'accusé de réception + (3 * temps d'espacement intertrame).
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la pluralité de canaux sont des canaux
sans fil.
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel d'autres dispositifs (120, 130, 140,
500) sur le réseau qui reçoivent le signal d'achèvement de données libèrent tout NAV
résiduel pour l'au moins un de la pluralité de canaux qui a été utilisé par le premier
dispositif (100, 500) pour émettre les données.
5. Premier dispositif (100, 500) qui utilise un protocole demande d'envoi/prêt pour l'envoi,
RTS/CTS pour envoyer des données à un second dispositif (110, 500) sur un réseau,
comprenant :
un moyen d'envoi d'une trame RTS sur une pluralité de canaux, dans lequel chaque dispositif
(120, 130, 140, 500) à l'intérieur du réseau qui reçoit la trame RTS paramètre un
vecteur d'allocation de réseau, NAV, sur une durée qui est basée en partie sur des
informations incluses dans la trame RTS et qui est calculée sur la base d'une bande
passante de l'un de la pluralité de canaux et une quantité de données à envoyer par
le premier dispositif (100, 500) au second dispositif (110, 500) sur la bande passante
de l'un de la pluralité de canaux ;
un moyen de réception d'une trame CTS en provenance du second dispositif (110, 500)
sur la base d'une réception de la trame RTS au niveau du second dispositif (110, 500),
la trame CTS étant reçue sur au moins l'un de la pluralité de canaux ;
un moyen d'émission de données vers le second dispositif (110, 500) dans la durée
réglée par le NAV à l'aide de l'au moins un de la pluralité de canaux sur lequel la
trame CTS a été reçue ; et
un moyen de délivrance, si l'émission de données vers le second dispositif (110, 500)
est achevée, d'un signal d'achèvement de données sur l'au moins un de la pluralité
de canaux sur lequel la trame CTS a été reçue et qui a été utilisé pour émettre les
données.
6. Premier dispositif (100, 500) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le NAV est réglé
sur la durée qui est égale au temps de trame(s) d'émission de données + temps de trame
CTS + temps de trame d'accusé de réception + (3 * temps d'espacement intertrame).
7. Premier dispositif (100, 500) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la pluralité de
canaux sont des canaux sans fil.
8. Premier dispositif (100, 500) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel d'autres dispositifs
(120, 130, 140, 500) sur le réseau qui reçoivent le signal d'achèvement de données
libèrent tout NAV résiduel pour l'au moins un de la pluralité de canaux qui a été
utilisé par le premier dispositif (100, 500) pour émettre les données.
9. Produit de programme d'ordinateur, comprenant :
un support lisible par ordinateur, comprenant :
un code pour amener un ordinateur à mettre en oeuvre un procédé selon l'une quelconque
des revendications 1 à 4.